Category: premium aged rum (page 1 of 2)

Spanning the globe in search of authentic expressions of rum, Alexandre Gabriel’s Plantation Rum brand celebrates the diversity of rum and brings a unique perspective to the marketing of sugar cane spirits.

Plantation’s myriad rum offerings celebrate the incredible range and richness of rum in both culture and taste, from points of origin to fermentation, distillation and barreling techniques.

Having spent countless days in the Caribbean in search of the best rums, Alexandre Gabriel’s dedication to understanding rum’s diversity is without equal. This decades-long obsession has effectively provided the enthusiastic consumer and rum collector with a global rum education on a silver platter.

Plantation Rum will present a seminar entitled “Exploring the Diversity of Rum,” at Miami Rum Festival on Friday, May 17 at 7pm. This seminar, lead by Rocky Yeh, will guide participants on a journey across rum’s broad landscape to explore that magnificent multiplicity of variety within the rum category.

The Miami Rum Festival takes place at the historic Coral Gables Woman’s Club on Friday, May 17 from 4 to 8pm, and on Saturday, May 18th from 4 to 10pm. VIP admission begins at 2pm each day.

The festival features rum producers from near and far exhibiting their products, along with seminars and master classes, cocktail demonstrations and a blind tasting competition by international judges.

The Plantation Rum brand will be highlighting some of their most outstanding expressions with tasting samples that explore the diversity of rum across many regions, including Xaymaca from Jamaica; Fiji Grand Terroir 2009; Jamaica Grand Terroir 2005; Barbados Grand Terroir 2005; Old Fashioned Traditional Dark Overproof; Original Dark Double Aged; 20th Anniversary XO from Barbados, 3 Stars White from Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad; Barbados Five Years; and Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple rum.

The Diversity of Rum seminar takes the participants on a journey across rum’s broad landscape to explore that magnificent variety within the rum category.

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Since 1703, the legendary masters of rum, at their production facilities of Mount Gay Distillery in Barbados, have been creating fine aged rums, acclaimed the world over.

On Friday, May 17 at 3pm, the Miami Rum Festival will present a special seminar that pulls back the curtain on the Mount Gay Distillery production process, revealing the traditions and time-honored routines that remain unchanged over the decades and centuries.

Classic Wooden Fermentation Vats at Mount Gay Distillery

Learn about their fermentation methods, the use of classic copper pot batch stills and modern fractional column continuous stills, their wood management philosophy and techniques, and perhaps most interesting of all — the art of blending their marques to make their world-famous rum expressions.

“We know the Mount Gay brand of fine aged rums as some of the best in the world, defining the style that we equate with the island of Barbados,” said Robert Burr, host of the Miami Rum Fest and publisher of Robs Rum Guide. “This is the heart and soul of Barbados.”

“While many have visited the Mount Gay Welcome Center in Bridgetown while visiting Barbados, few have been invited to the actual Mount Gay Distillery in St. Lucy Parish to see first-hand how these magnificent rums are created, aged and blended into the awarding winning products revered around the world.”

The 11th annual Miami Rum Fest takes place at the historic Coral Gables Woman’s Club. General admission on Friday, May 17th is from 4pm to 8pm and Saturday, May 18th from 4pm to 10pm. VIP admission starts at 2pm each day. For complete details, visit the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival web site. http://www.rumrenaissance.com/

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An iconic Navy Style rum brand has re-issued its limited edition luxury expression – Pussers 15 Year Old – which now contains only rums of Guyana, with a freshly updated bottle design, label and packaging.

Often referred to as the “Crown Jewel” of the product line, this prestige expression of the legacy British Royal Navy formula, sets a high standard for the category and is sure to become a collector’s item among connoisseurs.

Limited Edition

18,000 bottles of Pussers 15 Year Old will be released worldwide, with 6,000 bottles destined for the United States.

“Pusser’s Rum ‘Crown Jewel’ is a true aged rum of 15 years and is crafted in small batches. Due to the rarity of true-aged wooden pot-stilled stocks, only 3,000 six-pack cases could be blended,” said Gary Rogalski, President/CEO Pussers Rum. “This new, improved blend is 100% Guyana origin. We replaced the column stilled portion of Trinidad origin which was no longer available for export. While blended to the exact time-tested and award-winning formula, connoisseurs and aficionados have found the new blend a tad less sweet and even more desirable from a sensory perspective. We also feel it is a superior product and deserves to be commemorated with a new bottle design, label and packaging. As with all our expressions, true-aged Pussers 15 Year Old is 100 percent rum with no added sugars, artificial flavors or colors.”

Pussers 15 Year Old Tasting Notes

Pusser’s 15 Year Old Rum is a luxury expression of authentic navy-style spirits from yesteryear.

Aromas of dark dried fruit, earthy molasses and big oak dominate the nose. On the palate, burnt sugar and dark dried fruits over charred oak lead to a pleasant creamy vanilla note with caramel shortbread cookie and baking spices. The rich, dark tones and old oak linger in the long warm finish.

This rich navy-style rum profile is a critical ingredient in some iconic tropical cocktails like the Pain Killer, the Hurricane, and the Zombie.

Pusser’s 15 Year Old Navy Style Rum is bottled at 40% abv and sells for about $80.

The Pusser’s Legacy

Re-creating the legendary naval blend of rich dark rums for the modern era was a distinct challenge that the founders of Pusser’s Rum managed to achieve. Evoking the spirit of centuries of life on the high seas, numerous battles and engagements, and the rituals of serving rums to sailors on the tall ships, Pusser’s succeeds at expressing a critical aspect of rum’s storied history.

The ship’s purser was the officer principally responsible for handling money and valuable cargo onboard, including the issue of the daily rum ration. The Pusser’s name is a slang derivation referring to this officer in charge of rum.

Pusser’s Rum Limited is a British Virgin Island Company with administrative offices in Charleston, South Carolina. Its products are imported into the United States by Shaw-Ross International Importers.

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A new prestige expression from Goslings Rum of Bermuda — Goslings Papa Seal Single Barrel — sets the standard for luxury limited editions from this British island territory in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Papa Seal Single Barrel Bermuda Rum is pot and column distilled from molasses, blended, and then aged in once-used bourbon barrels with a medium char. The humid, salty air of Bermuda provides an ideal environment for aging.

A Very Limited Edition

Goslings Papa Seal Single Barrel Aged Rum from Bermuda

Matured for over 15 years in twelve hand-selected bourbon barrels, only about 2,500 of these exclusive bottles will be released at a price of $199. Rum from each of the barrels, about 200 bottles each, is pre-destined for a specific geographic location.

At 41.5% abv, each bottle features the barrel number, bottle number, and bottling date hand-written on its label, while the name of the store it was acquired from is printed on the neck label. All bottles are housed in an elegant display box, complete with a slide-out tray, open view window, and satin finish foil label.

“Our obsession has always been with crafting the finest rums possible, not the most rums,” explains E. Malcolm Gosling, seventh-generation patriarch and CEO of Goslings International Limited. “With that mantra in mind, we proudly offer Papa Seal Single Barrel Bermuda Rum — the father of all rums — to our celebrated product line. We hope that dedicated Goslings drinkers and newcomers to super premium rum will have the opportunity to enjoy this special spirit.”

Goslings Papa Seal Tasting Notes

Luscious aromas of treacle and butter cookie over wet oak precede a slightly musty earthiness and old leather. On the palate, dark banana, burnt sugar and butter notes turn slightly dry at mid palate leading to creamy vanilla and baking spices over big charred wood. Hints of balsamic, dark prune and leather fade slowly in the very long finish.

Geographic Distribution

Barrel 1 will be distributed in Bermuda. Barrel 2 will go to Total Wine in Florida. Barrel 3 goes to ABC Wine & Spirits in Florida. Barrel 4 is for Crown Wine and Spirits in Florida. Barrel 5 is reserved for NH Liquor & Wine Outlets in New Hampshire. Barrel 6 goes to Blanchards Wines & Spirits in Massachusetts. Barrel 7 is for Total Wine and Spec’s in Texas. Barrel 9 goes to Bourbon Street Wine and Spirits, Phillipsburg, NJ. Barrel 10 will be sent to various retailers in New York State. Barrel 11 goes to PLCB Fine Wine and Good Spirits in Pennsylvania. Barrel 12 is reserved for Wally’s in Los Angeles, CA. The final destination of Barrel 8 is yet to be determined.

The Goslings Legacy

A family business for over 200 years, Goslings Rum is Bermuda’s largest export product and the only company that blends and bottles rum on the island. First exported to the United States in 1980, Goslings offers five distinctive, award-winning rums.

Goslings Black Seal Rum

Goslings Gold Seal Rum

Goslings 151 Proof Black Seal Rum

Goslings Family Reserve Old Rum

Goslings Papa Seal Single Barrel Bermuda Rum

Goslings Stormy Ginger Beer, crafted specifically for use in the trademarked Goslings Dark’n Stormy cocktail, is the number-one selling ginger beer in the United States. Goslings also markets a ready-to-drink Dark ‘n Stormy cocktail in a convenient 8.4 oz can.

True to it’s namesake, this iconic brand hearkens the days of prohibition-era rum running when Bill McCoy refused to compromise on quality. Only 3,000 bottles of this micro-batch have been released.

Pedigree

The Real McCoy 10 Year Old Limited Edition Virgin Oak Rum is a robust expression from Barbados created by blending rums aged in both Bourbon and Virgin American Oak casks.

Crafted at Foursquare Distillery, this expression relies on a higher percentage of copper pot still distillate for a richer flavor profile. Two batches are aged separately. The first spends twelve years in used Bourbon barrels. The second, ages ten years in virgin American oak casks.

Carefully blended to balance flavors, the result is bottled at a hardy 92 proof, an example of the authentic style of fine aged rum that made Barbados famous the world over.

Tasting notes

Aromas of ripe banana, toasted butter pecan, big oak and vanilla are accented by a funky fruit. On the palate, brown butter over charred oak brings vanilla, toasted almond and tart dried fruit with a suggestion of burnt sugar. The finish offers long lasting notes of dark buttered toast and plenty of oak.

Quality and Value

The Real McCoy 10 Year Old Limited Edition Virgin Oak Rum appeals to connoisseurs, while remaining accessible to all spirit enthusiasts who appreciate small-batch quality and good value.

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Diplomático Distillery Collection rums, labeled “No. 1 Batch Kettle Rum” and “No. 2 Barbet Rum” each contain a unique bottle number, batch number, and the date of the distillation marked on the label, as well as an illustration of the still.

A pair of rums that spotlight the distinctive production process used by the popular Diplomático Rum from Venezuela — the Diplomático Distillery Collection — have been released in the United States.

The distillery in La Miel, Venezuela has a long history of producing fine rums, using traditional copper pot stills, as well as modern column stills. One additional asset that sets them apart from others is their batch kettle still, a hybrid configuration best known for producing whiskies.

The new Diplomático Distillery Collection highlights these distillation systems with two new limited edition expressions: a Single Batch Kettle rum and a Single Barbet Column rum.

This new pair allows consumers to better understand and distinguish the various production methods and unique personalities of the stills used to make many of Diplomático’s fine blended expressions. Continue reading

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From one of the oldest rum producers in the world comes one of the finest rare aged rums ever bottled, Mount Gay 1703 Master Select.

Derived from double copper pot and single column still distillates, this spirit is a blend of 10 to 30 year old aged rums. 1703 Master Select is a deliciously complex and concentrated nectar reflecting the life-long mastery of blender Allen Smith. Continue reading

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Among the most exclusive and expensive rums on the market, the new Rum Arôme 28 year old presents a luxury aged rum experience for serious rum collectors and connoisseurs.

Rum Arôme 28 is produced by a life-long master of rum in Panama and packaged for the luxury market. This rare rum expression is limited to 500 bottles worldwide.

The rare limited edition Rum Arôme is a luxury rum aged 28 years in Panama

The rum is distilled in a vintage copper column still and aged in used whiskey barrels for 28 years before a careful blending brings all the elements into a near perfect balance.

Tasting Notes

Aromas include brown sugar, charred whiskey wood, honey, baking spice, ripe butter and leather, with a hint of black pepper. A very smooth sweet entry builds big warmth at mid-palate before drying out with lingering vanilla and big wood over dried fruit, offering hints of cinnamon, cocoa and allspice. Notes of white raisins and butter linger in the long finish.

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From Panama, the Abuelo XV Finish Collection features a trio of luxurious double barreled aged spirits aimed at the serious rum enthusiast. These limited edition 15 year old expressions are rested in casks of Tawny Port, Oloroso Sherry and Napoleon Cognac respectively.

The Abuelo XV Finish Collection

Each delivers a well aged, complex Central American spirit created from molasses, enhanced with a delightful bouquet of European wines during the second stage of maturity.

This trans-Atlantic connection serves as an homage to the masters — an international bridge between cultures, a melding of classic flavors and gastronomic legends.

Tasting Notes

Abuelo Añejo XV Años Tawny Port Cask Finish

Aromas of cocoa and tart berry over ripe dark fruit, butter cookie and mild wood. On the palate, sweet dark fruit leads to bitter chocolate Bon Bon and raspberry with bread pudding, fading into earthy wood and hints of cocoa in the long finish.

Abuelo Añejo XV Años Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish

Aromas of cacao and stone fruit with suggestion of herbaceous cane, vanilla custard and a hint of pear. On the palate, rich dark fruit builds to vanilla custard over musty wood and cola before aromatic eucalyptus and butter croissant precede a hint of cane and molasses in the long finish.

Abuelo Añejo XV Años Napoleon Cognac Cask Finish

Aromas of vanilla and musty bourbon oak lead to sweet fruit and pound cake with hints of green and black peppercorns over bitter wood. On the palate, a sweet caramel entry leads to bold cognac wood in the complex mid-palate, with a balance between sweet fruit and dry vanilla. The finish is wonderfully viscous, fading into echoes of honey, green banana and flowers.

These 750ml bottles of the Abuelo XV Finish Collection, at 40% abv, retail for about $75 in the United States.

The Abuelo brand offers a range of award-winning rums from Panama including the Añejo, 7 Años, 12 Años and the luxury expression Centuria.

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From Destilerías Unidas in Venezuela, the Diplomatico brand has revealed Diplomatico 2002 Single Vintage, a new limited edition luxury rum expression.

Distilled in vintage copper pot stills in 2002, the rum was then aged in bourbon and single malt whisky casks for twelve years.

2002 Single Vintage Selection

Diplomatico 2002 Single Vintage is a limited edition aged rum from Venezuela aged in oak for twelve years before a second aging in sherry barrels.

Crafted from a selection of the most exceptional rum reserves in their vast complex of aging warehouses, the components of this Diplomático 2002 Single Vintage are hand-selected for exceptional quality.

After the initial aging process, these select spirits are transferred to Oloroso Spanish Sherry casks for another year to impart an enhanced finish.

After the second aging process, the Maestros Roneros carefully blend the rums in order to obtain the structure, body, personality, flavors and aromas that best express the vintage year.

The result is an artful and delicate balance of rare aged rums, destined for this special limited edition 2002 Single Vintage, created for the most serious rum enthusiasts.

Tasting Notes

Aromas of vanilla and almond lead to well balanced caramel and dark dried fruit before aromatic oak, cigar box, musk and raisin. On the palate, initial flavors of caramel, vanilla and oak are enhanced by complex dark fruit, spices and hints of tobacco. The finish dries out with very long lasting echoes of oak, raisin and toffee.

Diplomatico Rums

The Diplomatico brand includes many fine traditional expressions such as Rum Blanco, Reserva and Exclusiva. Among the prestige products are the single vintages and their ultimate luxury rum, Diplomatico Ambassador.

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The Rum Renaissance Caribbean Cruise is coming. A seven day holiday cruise through the Eastern Caribbean, featuring VIP tours of rum distilleries along the way, is set to sail from Puerto Rico on Saturday, November 19.

VIP Rum Distillery Tours

Robert A. Burr and his wife Robin will lead the land tours in St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados, visiting rum shops, rum tasting rooms and distilleries.

The group will depart Puerto Rico on the Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas on a seven night cruise in search of Caribbean rum. The cruise returns to San Juan on Saturday, November 26. Guests will enjoy Thanksgiving Day in Barbados with specially planned events and a fabulous holiday meal.

The cost of VIP distillery tours with transportation is $300 per person, in addition to the cost of the cruise. The official travel agent coordinating the rum cruise is Deb Fogarty of Be Well Travel in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

The Ultimate Adventure For Rum Enthusiasts

“Rum enthusiasts and their friends will especially enjoy this unique opportunity to learn more about their favorite Caribbean spirits. These are exclusive guided tours by some of the most knowledgeable people in the world of rum,” said Ms. Fogarty. “We are privileged to offer a holiday cruise itinerary that combines all the luxuries of this modern ship with rare VIP access. You’ll love these special tours and fine rum tastings at these iconic distilleries and rum shops along the way.”

“It’s a rum lover’s dream come true: setting sail through the Eastern Caribbean on a holiday adventure to discover how great rum is produced, aged and blended.”

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An exquisite expression long rested in oak barrels in the tropical regions of Panama, Zafra 30 Year Old aged rum is presented as a luxury limited edition of 6,720 bottles from hand-selected bourbon casks.

The Zafra Master Series, well known for the 21 year old Master Reserve, gained worldwide attention upon its debut in 2009 by Dana Importers of Miami, Florida.

Created by a masterful blender, Zafra 30 year old limited edition aged rum from Panama sets a high standard for luxury rums sold in the United States.

The color is deep mahogany. Aromas of luscious old oak over rich dark fruit lead to buttery dark brown caramel and vanilla. On the palate, a perfectly balanced entry of bitter wood, vanilla and honey blossoms into a warm and complex mid-palate accentuated with echoes of sherry and bourbon. The very long finish remains balanced to the end.

Zafra 30 Year Old aged rum is the result of a legendary life-long master blender’s talent, persistence and attention to detail. This limited edition rum expression is among the very finest from Panama.

The 750ml bottle retails for about $190.

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From the Serralles family distillery located near the city of Ponce on the south coast of Puerto Rico, this new Don Q 2005 Single Barrel aged rum reflects the signature style of the company’s legacy of producing authentic dry aged rums.

Don Q 2005 Single Barrel vintage rum is part of a limited edition series, bottled from a small selection of exceptional single barrel Puerto Rican rum laid down in 2005.

Don Q Single Barrel 2005 vintage from Serralles is a limited edition release ten year old aged rum from Puerto Rico.

Crafted from molasses using a modern five column still, this unique spirit by Master Distiller Silvia Santiago is worthy of the Serrallés family name and their 150 year reputation for producing exceptional rum.

Tasting Notes

On the nose, a delicate sweetness over toasted wood leads to a pleasant note of cane, a touch of sourdough and nut butter, with a hint of marzipan. On the palate, a delicate entry quickly develops a pleasant warmth that features charred and toasted bourbon wood before a rich buttery viscosity persists into the long finish.

Drink It Neat

Enjoyed neat in a fine tasting glass, the Don Q 2005 Single Barrel is a delightful experience for those that truly appreciate a well aged, dry light rum.

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Almost in a class by themselves, the rums of Dzama (pronounced zama) of Madagascar are influenced by their unique terroir, production methods and philosophy. Among the most interesting is the Dzama Nosy-Be Amber 104, a delightful expression that combines a higher proof (52% abv) with an amazing smoothness that faithfully reflects the cane fields of Nosy-Be, a tiny island of Madagascar, off the eastern coast of Africa.

The rum is distilled with local molasses. The area’s rich volcanic soil produces hearty strains of sugar cane, rich in minerals and high in sugar content.

The area also has a reputation for the delightful scents that fill the air from the world renowned Madagascar vanilla, as well as Ylang-Ylang, citrus, clove and wild pepper. These aromas infuse echoes of these lovely fragrances into the spirit.

Dzama Nosy-Be Amber 104 is distilled in column stills and rested four years in oak from the Chivas Brothers Distillery. This expression won a gold award in the 2012 International Rum Expert Panel tasting competition.

With a potent proof of 104, the nose starts with subtle tones of sweet vegetal cane, fresh cut vegetables, flowers, short bread cookies and pepper, while the palate suggests sweet butter cream, cane, vanilla and old oak, leading to bright pepper before a long, slightly sweet and warm lingering finish.

Dzama Rhum was developed by Lucien Fohine. His son Franck, with an extensive education in viticulture and oenology, as well as fermentation and distillation, continues the family traditions by maintaining the highest quality standards with each of their unique rum expressions.

Dzama dominates 60% of the spirits market on the island of Madagascar. The brand name is derived from the city of Dzamandzar.

Dzama rums are imported in the USA by Vizcaya Wine Imports. The 750ml bottle of Nosy-Be Amber 104 sells for $49.95.

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The addition of a VIP Tasting Bar offering select luxury, vintage and limited edition rums will offer a new level of excitement for serious rum enthusiasts at the 2016 Miami Rum Renaissance Festival and International Trade Expo. The annual event, said to be the world’s largest gathering of rum experts, professionals and consumers, is scheduled for April 15-17, 2016 at the DoubleTree Hilton Miami Airport Convention Center.

Miami Rum Festival and Trade Expo host Robert Burr today announced the addition of the VIP Tasting Bar at this popular rum event, featuring a selection of outstanding samples from his private collection.

“We want to share with rum fest participants some of the most interesting and exquisite rums that we’ve collected from our travels around the world. This is a splendid opportunity for rum enthusiasts to better understand and appreciate these limited edition, vintage and rare collectibles,” said Robert Burr, author of Rob’s Rum Guide, the National Rum Examiner blog and the Rum Minute YouTube channel.

The addition of the new luxury VIP Rum Tasting Bar at the annual Miami Rum Renaissance Festival and International Trade Expo allows rum enthusiasts to discover the world’s best rums.

The VIP Tasting Bar will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Rum Fest weekend from 1 to 6pm.

Both Robert Burr and his son Rob V. Burr will be on hand at the VIP Tasting Bar to share their knowledge and passion for these select expressions of the world’s best rums.

“In the course of publishing Rob’s Rum Guide and reporting for the National Rum Examiner, we are privileged to visit most of the great rum distilleries in the world,” said Rob. V. Burr. “Along the way, we’re collecting some very special bottles that represent the incredible range of high quality rums from Barbados and Jamaica to Guatemala and Panama; from Nicaragua and Haiti to Martinique and Guadeloupe; from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico to Venezuela and Guyana — and beyond. We invite our rum loving friends to stop by the VIP Tasting Bar to share some of our passion — as well as a taste of these fine rums.”